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Civics Literacy Excellence Initiative Grant awarded to the University of South Florida College of Education

america’s civic life through oral histories

K-12 Curriculum Resources for Florida Educators
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Portraits in Patriotism provides educators with oral history resources, lesson plans, and learning activities. It explores democracy in United States history through the eyes of immigrants who fled totalitarian regimes. Designed for K-12 civics educators in Florida, the curriculum shapes its lesson plans around the oral histories of a diverse group of individuals who demonstrate civic-minded qualities in their new home, the United States. The College of Education at the University of South Florida (USF) produced these videos in partnership with USF’s award-winning InEd Studios and the Victims of Communism Museum in Washington D.C. The narratives and their related lesson materials are housed on CPALMS, Florida’s official source of online information, vetted resources, and interactive tools to help educators implement state curriculum standards. This project is supported by grants from the Florida Department of Education.

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portraits in patriotism videos

A series of oral histories from America’s immigrant and civic history
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Portraits in Patriotism’s oral histories personalizes your lesson plans on modern history’s pivotal moments, focusing on countries whose governing philosophies differ from the United States. Individual accounts collected as in-depth interviews providing invaluable personal narratives that help K-12 students to grasp the human impact of war and dictatorship, emphasizing the importance of democracy and democratic principles. 

Ivonne Blank

Born in Cuba, Ivonne Blank immigrated to the United States in 1961 as part of Operation Pedro Pan. Now a lifelong educator, she talks about her experience with the Cuban Revolution and how difficult it was waiting to reunite with her parents after she resettled in the United States.

Mel Martínez
Former U.S Senator and Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Mel Martínez shares his journey to freedom in the United States. Mr. Martínez was part of Operation Pedro Pan in which unaccompanied Cuban children were sent to the United States to escape the newly formed communist regime of Fidel Castro.
Alejandro Brice
Alejandro Brice and his family immigrated from Cuba at the beginning of the Cuban Revolution. His father was jailed as a counter-revolutionary sympathizer and upon release, the family fled the country. Dr. Brice shares his memories of his “freedom wings”, the culture shock of growing up in Ohio as immigrants, learning English in elementary school, watching his family start over, and becoming a U.S. Citizen. Dr. Brice is a college professor specializing in the education of immigrant children and English language learners.
Luis Martínez-Fernández
Luis Martínez-Fernández was born at the beginning of the Cuban Revolution. Dr. Martínez-Fernández immigrated to the United States with his family when he was 2 years old after the Bay of Pigs Invasion. His family moved to Lima, Peru after his father was offered employment there.
Idelia & Cristina Viera
Idelia Viera shares the experience of being exiled from Cuba as a young woman, with special focus on the Cuban Missile Crisis. Ms. Viera describes the difficulties her immigrant family faced and overcame in their new home, providing educational opportunities for their children she and her husband never had.
Ardian Zika

Ardian Zika grew up in communist Yugoslavia (now Kosovo). He immigrated to the United States, became a U.S. citizen, and was elected to the Florida House of Representatives in 2018.

Channy Laux
Channy Laux grew up in Cambodia. In 1975, her world was turned upside down when the Khmer Rouge and Pol Pot took power. Channy and her family were forced to leave their home and live and work in inhumane conditions in an agricultural labor camp. Channy was eventually able to escape Cambodia and went to school in the United States. She learned English and became a U.S. citizen. Today, Channy is a speaker, author, and small business owner.
Lily Tang Williams
Lily Tang Williams was born in communist China during Mao Zedong’s rule. She witnessed Mao’s Cultural Revolution first hand as she was growing up. She was a member of the Young Pioneers and the Red Guard, but yearned to come to the United States to learn about and live in a democracy. In 1988, she was able to come to the United States for schooling and was granted asylum status.
Francisco Márquez
Francisco Márquez was born in Venezuela and spent his childhood in both Venezuela and the U.S. He studied political science and law in Venezuela and earned his MBA in the United States. After receiving his MBA, Francisco returned to Venezuela. Under the authoritarian Nicolás Maduro regime, Francisco was arrested as a political prisoner and spent time in a Venezuelan prison. Eventually, Francisco was released and is now a political rights activist.
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engage with civics and history

Interactive Resources for K-12 Teachers
These lesson plans provide educators with valuable resources and guides to engage students in the study of U.S. government, democracy, and citizenship. Whether you’re a seasoned educator or a new teacher, our plans offer a diverse perspective and a range of activities that align with Florida curriculum standards.
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